Dear Editor,
After the disaster that was the recent Test and ODI series against England, several readers opined in letters to SN and other publications that Guyana should consider going it alone. In the letter pages I offered that we must have patience with this West Indies team. After all, the tour itself was hastily organised and our players were unaccustomed to the bitingly cold conditions. Furthermore, the players just needed some R&R and extra money that only the IPL can provide. Obviously their unhappiness showed in their performance on and off the field. I also believed that the WI team was meant to be fodder for the English team in preparation for the Ashes showdown. So much for respect!
Well, our beloved West Indies may not be there yet, but their performance so far in the ICC World Twenty/ 20 gives us hope for this team yet. The team seems rejuvenated and despite a very low seed and being placed in the Group of Death with Australia and Sri Lanka, our boys have made it all the way to the semis. I admit that I am still baffled with the selection of X Marshall and I am a bit worried by A. Fletcher’s sudden lack of runs (3 ducks in a row), but I was also worried about Shiv’s play in this format and surprise, surprise, his experience pulled us through against England, so I’ll again preach patience. Who knows, with the right breaks we’ll be defending the cup next year at home.
Finally, I believe that the West Indies success in the latest version of the game is due in no small part to the experience that the Stanford 20/20 provided. Problem is, how do we say thank you – bittersweet maybe, to Sir R Allen Stanford?
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Z. Rahaman
